we go live to washington. the very latest details. >>> and michael phelps' pick for the athlete of the year. this is a surprise. this guy, he never wins anything. good morning. welcome to "early start," everyone. i'm john berman. >> i'm zoraida sambolin. it's nice to have you with us. it is early, 5:00 a.m. in the east. the fury of the first winter storm is making holiday travel very difficult if not impossible. today new england is expected to get slammed by that storm. at least seven traffic-related deaths in four states are blamed on this crazy severe weather. as the storm barrelled through the plains and the great lakes, more than a foot of wet, heavy snow fell in parts of iowa and wisconsin. there were hundreds of flights canceled right at the height of the holiday travel, as you very well know. check this out. power lines sparking. look at that. and snapping. >> holy -- wow. >> and the storm's worst, 400,000 power customers in the region had no electricity. that number was down to 133,000 by yesterday af